Washington: The State Department has described the recent visit of envoys of 15 countries, including that of the US, to Jammu and Kashmir as an “important step” but expressed concern over the continued detention of political leaders and restrictions on internet in the region.
In the first such trip by foreign diplomats post August 5, envoys of 15 countries, including the US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, last week visited Jammu and Kashmir where they interacted with select political representatives, civil society members as well as top military brass with the Indian government rejecting criticism that it was a “guided tour”.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells, who will be travelling to South Asia this week, on Saturday expressed hope that the region will return to normalcy.
“Closely following @USAmbIndia & other foreign diplomats’ recent trip to Jammu & Kashmir. Important step. We remain concerned by detention of political leaders and residents, and Internet restrictions. We look forward to a return to normalcy,” she said in a tweet. (PTI)
